Rate Options & Tariffs
Ohio

Net Metering

Net metering is a special metering and billing agreement between utilities and their customers, which facilitates the connection of small, renewable energy-generating systems to the power grid. Our net metering program encourages small-scale renewable energy systems, ensures that customers always have a reliable source of energy from the grid during times when their renewable generators are not producing energy, and provides substantial benefits to the electric power-generating system, the economy, and the environment.

When a net metering customer’s renewable generator is producing more power than is being consumed, the electric meter runs backward, generating credits. When a net metering customer uses more power than is being produced, the meter runs forward. Net metering customers are charged only for the “net” power that they consume from the electricity service provider that has accumulated over a designated period or, if their renewable energy-generating systems make more electricity than is consumed, they may be credited or paid for the excess electricity contributed to the grid over that same period.

It has been shown that customers with net metering systems tend to be much more aware of their energy consumption, so they usually consume less energy than the average retail customer. Net metering is also a way to increase the energy in the power grid to keep up with increases in demand during peak power-use times.